Media Advisory - October 3, 2010
Bolt Pride & Lifesharing declare
"Donor Awareness Day"
Chargers vs. Cardinals

Bolt Pride values family and having a great time - Bolt Pride is about enjoying life and sharing life together. This is why Lifesharing is very important to the Bolt Pride.

Lifesharing, a division of UCSD Medical Center, is the non-profit, federally-designated organ and tissue recovery organization serving San Diego & Imperial Counties.

Did you know?

• People on the organ waiting list total 100,000 nationally & 1,400 locally (Factsheets: Lifeshare & Minorities)
• A new name is added to the national waiting list every 13 minutes
• 19 people die waiting each day across the U.S.
• Locally - nearly 100 people died waiting last year
• Also - minorities overall have a particularly high need for organ transplants because some diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas, and liver are found more frequently in racial and ethnic minority populations than in the general population. (Minority Overview)
• However, 1 organ donor can save the lives of up to 8 people
• In 2007, Lifesharing saved nearly 300 lives locally

The Bolt Pride is honored to partner with Lifesharing in promoting the organ donor program. This partnership was inspired by the story of Jason Ray - the former University of North Carolina mascot who died in 2007 at the age of 21, but continues to live through the organ recipients whose lives he saved. Sports - and especially Charger football, are an outlet for fans. The games give us a short break from everyday life. But we can never forget how precious and fragile life really is. The games can end for us at any moment - this we cannot control. However, Lifesharing gives us the power to save lives - maybe even the life of another Bolt Pride family member. This is the lesson we learn from Jason Ray's story - a Ray of Hope.

Two immediate examples from the NFL include Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals - who is an organ recipient, and former Charger Willie Buchannon - who is a community champion for Lifesharing.

The decision to register as an organ donor is a very personal one. However, every member of the extended Bolt Pride family is called upon to consider stepping up to support this very worthy cause. Registration is very easy, and Bolt Pride is registered with the California organ donor registry - all who register may identify themselves as "Bolt Pride"!

Thanks to all and may God bless you and yours.

Sincerely,

Alvarez
Bolt Pride Founder and Leader
Registered Organ Donor as of July 30, 2008

Steps to Register as an Organ Donor

1. Go to www.donatelifecalifornia.org/boltpride
2. Click on "Sign Me Up Today"
3. Enter personal information
4. For "I am participating in a Donor Registry Challenge/Event", select "Bolt Pride"
5. Click "Continue" to complete process

Congratulations!